# Great Debates **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=735 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 736 --- ## [Did Bush order the release of Valerie Plame's name?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-bush-order-the-release-of-valerie-plames-name/390417)
**Author:** [@Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hentor_the_Barbarian)\ **Replies:** 33\ **Last updated:** [February 1, 2007, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-bush-order-the-release-of-valerie-plames-name/390417 "2007-02-01T23:48:44Z")
At the Washington Monthly, Kevin Drum has a copy of Cheney’s note about Scooter Libby, with what to me is a very revealing strike-out. Cheney is writing that they need to give Scooter the same cover that they had given … --- ## [Atomic debate: bombing Japan](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atomic-debate-bombing-japan/390306)
**Author:** [@bodied62](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bodied62)\ **Replies:** 35\ **Last updated:** [February 1, 2007, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atomic-debate-bombing-japan/390306 "2007-02-01T18:38:55Z")
The USA is the only country in the world to have dropped atomic bombs upon an enemy. Why did the USA drop atomic bombs on Japan? The country was going to surrender anyway thanks to the traditional bombing from the US Air… --- ## [Military shows off "Active Denial System" (agony ray)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/military-shows-off-active-denial-system-agony-ray/390235)
**Author:** [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Replies:** 57\ **Last updated:** [February 1, 2007, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/military-shows-off-active-denial-system-agony-ray/390235 "2007-02-01T18:34:20Z")
Follow-up on this thread from 2004: They’ve actually done it. A crowd-control weapon in the form of a ray gun that induces pain without inflicting permanent damage. Is this a step forward in non-lethal warfare, or a … --- ## [What will the world be like when China and India are military/economic superpowers?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-the-world-be-like-when-china-and-india-are-military-economic-superpowers/389305)
**Author:** [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Replies:** 53\ **Last updated:** [February 1, 2007, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-the-world-be-like-when-china-and-india-are-military-economic-superpowers/389305 "2007-02-01T17:40:23Z")
They’ll get there before too long. How will they act, as superpowers? How will the world adjust? --- ## [Obama or Hillary? Can the Dems put a woman or a black man in the White House?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-or-hillary-can-the-dems-put-a-woman-or-a-black-man-in-the-white-house/389073)
**Author:** [@Ogre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ogre)\ **Replies:** 85\ **Last updated:** [February 1, 2007, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-or-hillary-can-the-dems-put-a-woman-or-a-black-man-in-the-white-house/389073 "2007-02-01T15:31:23Z")
Is such a thing possible yet in America? Do Clinton or Obama have a realistic chance of the nomination against Edwards? If one of them does take the nod, can the Dems hope to win the presidency against the Pub candidat… --- ## [Was Alberto DeSalvo the Boston Strangler?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-alberto-desalvo-the-boston-strangler/390410)
**Author:** [@Wee\_Bairn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wee_Bairn)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [February 1, 2007, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-alberto-desalvo-the-boston-strangler/390410 "2007-02-01T14:42:39Z")
I saw an intersting documentary on the case a few days ago, and it led me to believe that Alberto DeSalvo was the wrong man, mainly because of the pattern of crime he would had to follow to be the killer. DeSalvo would h… --- ## [Why do we believe in God, when there is no scientific evidence of its existance](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-believe-in-god-when-there-is-no-scientific-evidence-of-its-existance/389825)
**Author:** [@feli8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/feli8)\ **Replies:** 182\ **Last updated:** [February 1, 2007, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-believe-in-god-when-there-is-no-scientific-evidence-of-its-existance/389825 "2007-02-01T14:38:40Z")
We address self-proclaimed psychics and mediums as lunatics, but praise those who devote themselves to God. A bit contradicting, dont you think? Both of these cases lacks scientific evidence, living in the twenty-first c… --- ## [Blue States really are better than Red States](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blue-states-really-are-better-than-red-states/389880)
**Author:** [@Napier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Napier)\ **Replies:** 103\ **Last updated:** [February 1, 2007, 6:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blue-states-really-are-better-than-red-states/389880 "2007-02-01T06:28:34Z")
Wow! I’ve read the Red/Blue question debated in various places and often hear that it’s an oversimplification and the supposed differences aren’t real. It occurred to me to put this to the test, as I can do some statisti… --- ## [How fast could we get to Mars or Jupiter?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-fast-could-we-get-to-mars-or-jupiter/390099)
**Author:** [@Cymro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cymro)\ **Replies:** 23\ **Last updated:** [February 1, 2007, 4:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-fast-could-we-get-to-mars-or-jupiter/390099 "2007-02-01T04:23:31Z")
This is from a US perspective. OK - so 2001 style, we find out that we need to get our asses to Mars ASAP. This becomes a major national priority - and it’s essential that the US beat the EU or the Japanese or the Chi… --- ## [Could terrorists actualy ever top 9/11?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-terrorists-actualy-ever-top-9-11/389997)
**Author:** [@Phlosphr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phlosphr)\ **Replies:** 75\ **Last updated:** [January 31, 2007, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-terrorists-actualy-ever-top-9-11/389997 "2007-01-31T22:19:27Z")
I was just perusing the Homeland Security website and was looking at some profiles of radical islamic groups and their recruitment techniques and reading about the root of their issues against “the infidels” When it stru… --- ## [What effects will interactivity have on intellect/serendipitous learning/etc.?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-effects-will-interactivity-have-on-intellect-serendipitous-learning-etc/390220)
**Author:** [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [January 31, 2007, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-effects-will-interactivity-have-on-intellect-serendipitous-learning-etc/390220 "2007-01-31T18:29:01Z")
Is Technology Killing Serendipitous Learning or Intellectual Innovation? This may be of interest only to me but since it’s asking for opinions for or against and longer than yes or no I’ll put it in GD. On last night’… --- ## [Six Sigma's rubbish. Isn't it?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/six-sigmas-rubbish-isnt-it/390089)
**Author:** [@BACI](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BACI)\ **Replies:** 61\ **Last updated:** [January 31, 2007, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/six-sigmas-rubbish-isnt-it/390089 "2007-01-31T16:44:32Z")
…Well, isn’t it? --- ## [Why do people call Islamic Civilization a Violent Civilization?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-call-islamic-civilization-a-violent-civilization/389521)
**Author:** [@ITR\_champion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ITR_champion)\ **Replies:** 93\ **Last updated:** [January 31, 2007, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-call-islamic-civilization-a-violent-civilization/389521 "2007-01-31T15:32:55Z")
I believe that the title of the thread speaks for itself. Thinking on a large scale, I believe that Islamic civilization is one of the more peaceful of Earth’s major civilzations. There has been no Muslim invasion of a… --- ## [Lebanon: Strike ends, violence continues . . .](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lebanon-strike-ends-violence-continues/389745)
**Author:** [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [January 31, 2007, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lebanon-strike-ends-violence-continues/389745 "2007-01-31T14:00:25Z")
Story here, Wiki article here. We might have hoped the 2005 “Cedar Revolution” would at long last quiet things down. No such luck. How will this turn out? Can yet another civil war be averted? --- ## [Do you believe that a cloned cow could meet the organic food standard?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-believe-that-a-cloned-cow-could-meet-the-organic-food-standard/390254)
**Author:** [@OtakuLoki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OtakuLoki)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [January 31, 2007, 12:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-believe-that-a-cloned-cow-could-meet-the-organic-food-standard/390254 "2007-01-31T12:12:47Z")
I saw this article yesterday, and I’ve been thinking about the implications of it since then. In the interests of full disclosure - I don’t really see the shock and fear regarding cloned meat animals as being justifiabl… --- ## [Presidential Mystery Date](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/presidential-mystery-date/390217)
**Author:** [@foolsguinea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/foolsguinea)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [January 31, 2007, 7:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/presidential-mystery-date/390217 "2007-01-31T07:38:53Z")
I think of voting for President as being like choosing a husband, or wife, or person to have an affair with. Not for me, y’unnerstand. I’m against having any branch of gov’t boil down to one guy with sex appeal. But p… --- ## [Have historians been fair to JFK re: US involvement in Vietnam?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-historians-been-fair-to-jfk-re-us-involvement-in-vietnam/389458)
**Author:** [@Carnac\_the\_Magnificent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Carnac_the_Magnificent)\ **Replies:** 29\ **Last updated:** [January 31, 2007, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-historians-been-fair-to-jfk-re-us-involvement-in-vietnam/389458 "2007-01-31T03:35:57Z")
Long before JFK committed US troops to Vietnam, the Kennedy men had burnished their reputations as diehard anti-Communists, a predilection that later guided JFK’s hand in appointing national security advisers who bought,… --- ## [Obama forms committee to explore presidential bid](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-forms-committee-to-explore-presidential-bid/388233)
**Author:** [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Replies:** 74\ **Last updated:** [January 31, 2007, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-forms-committee-to-explore-presidential-bid/388233 "2007-01-31T02:16:58Z")
Story here. Editorial here. Would he make a good president? Is he electable? I have doubts on the latter point. Senators rarely make good presidential candidates, and in 2008 Obama will still be only a freshma… --- ## [Is the Republican Presidential field deeply unsatisfying for conservatives?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-republican-presidential-field-deeply-unsatisfying-for-conservatives/389685)
**Author:** [@Apos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Apos)\ **Replies:** 72\ **Last updated:** [January 30, 2007, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-republican-presidential-field-deeply-unsatisfying-for-conservatives/389685 "2007-01-30T19:15:11Z")
This was prompted by this quote from a poster on RedState named Eric. While I doubt most conservatives would be as candid as this, these sentiments do seem to things I’m hearing a lot. The three current frontrunners, … --- ## [Iran, the worst case scenario](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iran-the-worst-case-scenario/389047)
**Author:** [@alphaboi867](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alphaboi867)\ **Replies:** 52\ **Last updated:** [January 30, 2007, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iran-the-worst-case-scenario/389047 "2007-01-30T19:09:29Z")
Suppose Bush decides to launch airstrikes on Iranian “nuclear facilities”, how badly could things plausibly spiral out of control? --- ## [Future Philosophical Dilemas - 2057' Tigers weren't extinct when I was a boy...](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/future-philosophical-dilemas-2057-tigers-werent-extinct-when-i-was-a-boy/389980)
**Author:** [@Phlosphr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phlosphr)\ **Replies:** 16\ **Last updated:** [January 30, 2007, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/future-philosophical-dilemas-2057-tigers-werent-extinct-when-i-was-a-boy/389980 "2007-01-30T14:42:43Z")
Mods see below Watching this documentary about the year 2057 last night on Discovery I got to thinking about the future of philosophy and the intrinsic questions that will plague our culture in the decades to come. I f… --- ## [Are Paratroops Obsolete?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-paratroops-obsolete/388485)
**Author:** [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Replies:** 37\ **Last updated:** [January 30, 2007, 11:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-paratroops-obsolete/388485 "2007-01-30T11:37:23Z")
I ask because the element of surprise (which is the big advantage of parachute soldiers) is just about gone from modern warfare-the incidents 9of successfull parachute operations) in WWII can be counted on the fingers… --- ## [Evidentialism](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/evidentialism/390073)
**Author:** [@Cegstar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cegstar)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [January 30, 2007, 10:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/evidentialism/390073 "2007-01-30T10:05:28Z")
Evidentialism is not restricted to atheism as there are theistic evidentialists (by atheism, i am meaning the naturalistic worldview, since atheistic outworkings means that there can only be naturalistic origins-- of the… --- ## [what about those WOMD in Iraq?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-about-those-womd-in-iraq/389581)
**Author:** [@Wildfire\_MM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wildfire_MM)\ **Replies:** 18\ **Last updated:** [January 30, 2007, 8:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-about-those-womd-in-iraq/389581 "2007-01-30T08:57:32Z")
what is the official stand for the Bush-adm. today about this issue? do they still believe they are hidden there ? --- ## ["...we regard as regrettable the concatenation of Darwin's name with evolution."](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-regard-as-regrettable-the-concatenation-of-darwins-name-with-evolution/390086)
**Author:** [@alterego](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alterego)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [January 30, 2007, 4:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-regard-as-regrettable-the-concatenation-of-darwins-name-with-evolution/390086 "2007-01-30T04:50:57Z")
Modified slightly to fit in the allotted space, the quote in full, from a recent essay in Nature titled, “Biology’s next revolution” Is this statement really merited? Is this information really new? I recall reading ab… --- ## [Corporations should be taxed on revenue, not profit](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/corporations-should-be-taxed-on-revenue-not-profit/389633)
**Author:** [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Replies:** 37\ **Last updated:** [January 30, 2007, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/corporations-should-be-taxed-on-revenue-not-profit/389633 "2007-01-30T02:43:28Z")
Based on this thread on corporate taxation, it is clear that I think corporations should pay their taxes on revenue. In other words, treat tax like a cost of good sold and if your revenue is bigger than your expenses - … --- ## [Does Guam deserve a recorded vote in Congress?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-guam-deserve-a-recorded-vote-in-congress/389342)
**Author:** [@That\_creates\_more\_Q\_s\_than\_A\_s](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/That_creates_more_Q_s_than_A_s)\ **Replies:** 20\ **Last updated:** [January 30, 2007, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-guam-deserve-a-recorded-vote-in-congress/389342 "2007-01-30T01:09:51Z")
Why can’t we just give them a vote in the statehouse in Hawaii? Why should their 100,ooo people rank the same as millions in D.C.? --- ## [If you have never served should you speak for the troops?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-have-never-served-should-you-speak-for-the-troops/389687)
**Author:** [@SSG\_Schwartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SSG_Schwartz)\ **Replies:** 21\ **Last updated:** [January 29, 2007, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-have-never-served-should-you-speak-for-the-troops/389687 "2007-01-29T23:52:56Z")
Limbaugh, Bootrz, Hannity et al have all tried to express what the troops want. I have heard conservatives talk about winning the war in Iraq. The conservative speakers that I hear seem to believe that a loss of 800+ l… --- ## [Is "argumentum ad hominem" always a fallacy?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-argumentum-ad-hominem-always-a-fallacy/389126)
**Author:** [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Replies:** 27\ **Last updated:** [January 29, 2007, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-argumentum-ad-hominem-always-a-fallacy/389126 "2007-01-29T20:46:56Z")
Inspired by this thread, where it was suggested several times that The Washington Times’ recent report that the HRC campaign was the source of swiftboating-rumors about Barack Obama being a crypto-Muslim can reasonably b… --- ## [Catholic Adoption agencies and Same-sex Couples](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/catholic-adoption-agencies-and-same-sex-couples/389390)
**Author:** [@Revenant\_Threshold](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revenant_Threshold)\ **Replies:** 69\ **Last updated:** [January 29, 2007, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/catholic-adoption-agencies-and-same-sex-couples/389390 "2007-01-29T20:08:47Z")
We have something of a hullabaloo here at the moment. Catholic adoption agencies currently refuse to adopt out to gay couples. Soon, the Equality Act will come in in which deals with discrimination on the basis of sexua… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=734) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=736)